What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face...
When you're a parent, every day brings a "fresh hell" to deal with. In other words, there's always something. Think of us as your funny mom friends who are here to remind you: you're not alone, and it won't always be this hard.
We're Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables, both busy moms of three kids, but with completely different parenting styles. Margaret is a laid-back to the max; Amy never met a spreadsheet or an organizational system she didn't like.
In each episode of "What Fresh Hell" we offer lots of laughs, but also practical advice, parenting strategies, and tips to empower you in your role as a mom. We explore self-help techniques, as well as ways to prioritize your own needs, combat stress, and despite the invisible workload we all deal with, find joy amidst the chaos of motherhood.
If you've ever wondered "why is my kid..." then one of us has probably been there, and we're here to tell you what we've learned along the way.
We unpack the behaviors and developmental stages of toddlers, tweens, and teenagers, providing insights into their actions and equipping you with effective parenting strategies.
We offer our best parenting tips and skills we've learned. We debate the techniques and studies that are everywhere for parents these days, and get to the bottom of what works best to raise happy, healthy, fairly well-behaved kids, while fostering a positive parent-child relationship.
If you're the default parent in your household, whether you're a busy mom juggling multiple pickups and dropoffs, or a first-time parent seeking guidance, this podcast is your trusted resource. Join our community of supportive mom friends laughing in the face of motherhood!
451
Why Isn't This a Thing? (Part Two)
We’re back with things that don’t exist but definitely should, from dishwasher-safe waffle makers to uninterrupted showers. This ep is full of $1,000,000 ideas… and OK, some $100 ideas too. But we deserve a world in which all these things are things.
42 min
452
Ask Amy: How Do I Get My Little Guy to Open Up?
How do we get our kids to open up to us about their days at school? When our kids say “nothing” happened, are we supposed to push harder, or let them just sit there? Here’s how to get kids talking– plus when it might be more productive to let it go.
6 min
453
Fresh Take: Donna Jackson Nakazawa on Helping O...
Stress affects the female brain very differently from the male brain, especially at puberty. Donna Jackson Nakazawa tells us about the increased rates of anxiety and depression in girls–and what we can do about it– in her new book GIRLS ON THE BRINK.
29 min
454
What We're Reading, Watching, and Listening to ...
What do lustful elves, Lizzo, and Jeopardy all have in common? They're on Amy and Margaret's reading/watching/listening list this fall. So get your Kindle, plug in your headphones, and retrieve the remote from wherever the kids (or spouse) have stashed it.
39 min
455
Ask Margaret: My Son Doesn't Have Any Close Fri...
If your kid has lots of acquaintances but no close friends, is something amiss? Is it time to pull out the conversation cue cards on the playground? Margaret explores different reasons that kids may not have close friends.
6 min
456
Fresh Take: Dr. Becky Kennedy on Being "Good In...
Dr. Becky Kennedy, host of the "Good Inside with Dr. Becky" podcast and @drbeckyatgoodinside on Instagram, tells us how the “Good Inside” approach can reshape how we view both ourselves as parents and our children,and about her new book GOOD INSIDE.
29 min
457
Should We Pay Our Kids to Clean Their Rooms?
Do your kids have chore charts? Do they help out anyhow, if not? Do they get paid an allowance? And does that allowance have anything to do with the doing of chores? We see these issues pretty differently. In this episode we discuss best solutions.
43 min
458
Ask Amy: My Spouse Goes Out with Friends...and ...
Does your parenting partner have a social life while you stay home? Has it been ages since you’ve seen your pals? Does it feel easier not to go out then to come home to a huge mess? Here’s how to find the time in your life to be more than mom.
6 min
459
Fresh Take: Linda Flanagan on Taking Back Kids'...
Is your 6th grader’s travel lacrosse schedule taking over your life? Are you spending $20K a year on youth hockey? Linda Flanagan’s new book is TAKE BACK THE GAME, and in this episode she explains how youth sports have been warped by money and mania.
31 min
460
What Fresh Hell Is Back to School?
School supplies. Pre-season sports. Parent portals. Uniform pants that don’t fit the night before the first day. Back to school means the return of so many fun activities for kids, and so many fresh hells for parents. Here are a few of our favorites.
36 min
461
Ask Margaret: What Should Kids DO After School?
Bring out your whiteboards! A listener asks for advice about afterschool routines for her two boys, and Margaret recommends writing down tasks, some unstructured time, and "feeding your beasts."
6 min
462
Best Of: Tiffany Jenkins on Mom Anxiety and Kee...
Tiffany Jenkins is as hilarious as she is honest. She’s a comedian, blogger, author, podcaster, and mom who uses her platforms to help and inspire others struggling with motherhood, mental health, and addiction, and those who just need a good laugh.
42 min
463
Best Of: What's Your Mom Superpower?
Everyone needs an ‘Attaboy!’ every once in a while. When you’re a mom, you usually have to give it to yourself. Whether it’s super-scheduling prowess or the ability to soothe a bleeding toddler in 10 seconds, here are our listeners’ mom superpowers.
44 min
464
Ask Amy: What's It Like To Have a Kid Away At C...
What’s it really like to have a kid away at college? Sure, drop-off day is hard, but there are also real benefits to this shift in the parent/child relationship. If you’re dreading an upcoming transition, Amy’s perspective will improve your outlook.
6 min
465
Fresh Take: Ron Lieber on "The Price You Pay fo...
The college financial aid process can make parents feel overwhelmed and frustrated. Ron Lieber, author of THE PRICE YOU PAY FOR COLLEGE, says it’s not our fault: the system is designed to confound. Here’s how to approach this huge financial decision.
31 min
466
What Kind of Monster? Family Vacation Edition
Forgotten luggage. Strollers that won’t fold. The best-laid family vacation plans quickly sour when there's a monster who forgot to pack the bathing suits. Here are some vacation monsters we’ve met. Full disclosure: sometimes the monster is us.
44 min
467
Ask Margaret: How Do I Get My Kids to Help Keep...
Margaret answers a question from a listener who wants to know how to encourage her kids to keep their rooms and the playroom clean.
5 min
468
Fresh Take: Catherine Pearlman on Kids and Phones
When should we get our kids phones? And is “delay as long as possible” an option? Catherine Pearlman, author of the book First Phone, tells us how kids can become wiser about the responsibilities of social media, digital consent, and internet safety.
31 min
469
Changing the Stories We Tell Ourselves
Our brains are wired for story. That doesn’t mean that the stories we tell ourselves are always accurate–or that the alternative stories others may have are necessarily wrong. Here’s how to identify–and change–the stories we tell ourselves.
40 min
470
Ask Amy: When Do You Start Letting Kids Have Sl...
This week Amy tackles the question, "When should I start letting my kids have sleepovers?"
3 min
471
JoAnn Crohn of "No Guilt Mom"
JoAnn Crohn is the creator of “No Guilt Mom” and a former middle-school teacher. She believes that some of the behavioral control strategies she learned in teacher training can be counterproductive, and especially at home. Here’s what to try instead.
31 min
472
Why *ISN'T* This a Thing?
Babysitters in all of the stores! Penumbras on our cars! One charger to rule them all! We asked our listeners what they wished WAS a thing, and they came up with some million-dollar ideas that Amy and Margaret definitely intend to steal.
40 min
473
Ask Margaret: My Daughter Says She Thinks She L...
It is important for parents to model body acceptance and intuitive eating for our kids, which can mean changing our own scripts as well.
6 min
474
Fresh Take: Anya Kamenetz on Covid and What Kid...
Anya Kamenetz, author of The Stolen Year: How Covid Changed Children's Lives, and Where We Go Now, says the US got pandemic schooling “more wrong” than other wealthy countries. Anya explains how and why decisions were made that put children last.
28 min
475
Best Of: We Ask Each Other Burning Questions
After several years of doing this podcast, we know a lot about each other. In this episode, we ask each other the burning questions that remain.
44 min